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Arts on Penn Ave: What’s Worth Checking Out

July 11, 2011 9:00 AM

(credit: Susan Constanse)

By Susan Constanse

Some of the best new art by local artists is on display in just a few short blocks along Penn Avenue between N Matilda St. and S. Negley Ave. in Friendship. They range from the highly polished Hodge Gallery at the Pittsburgh Glass Center to Garfield Artworks, with its selection of emerging artists.

The Pittsburgh Glass Center is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year with its exhibit, 10 x 10 x 10. The show brings together local and international artists working in glass, using new and traditional techniques. Heather Joy Puskarich’s work, “Journey”, is a particularly poignant reproduction of a letter from her father. Theo Keller’s work , an installation of finely worked, miniature vessels using lampworking, is also a must-see.

(Credit: ModernFormations)

MF Retrospective: 2001 – 2011 Ten Years of ModernFormations

Speaking of anniversaries, Modern Formations is also celebrating its tenth year, with a retrospective of all the gallery exhibits since its inaugural opening. The show is extensive and includes many works from director’s, Jennifer Quinio Hodges, personal collection. Each of the works is accompanied by documentation about its exhibit at Modern Formations, encapsulating the gallery’s history.

(Credit: Most Wanted Fine Art)

Most Wanted Fine Art

Most Wanted Fine Art will be showcasing drawings and portraits from Mike Galone and Kate Burgess in August, opening on Friday, August 5. The duo work together at Tattoo Noir and have brought those sensibilities to bear in their portraits for this exhibit.

(Credit: Ariela Steif)

“Bound Up In Our Skin”: Recent Sculpture and Drawings

Ariela Steif will be presenting works from her latest efforts at Garfield Artworks. This exhibit will be a departure for Ms. Stief’s encaustic works and smaller scale works that she has presented in group exhibits. She is definitely stretching her wings in this solo exhibit.

Photo Credit: Colorize the Urban Landscape event, via Facebook

Colorize The Urban Landscape

With the dynamic arts community that has arisen in the Penn Avenue arts corridor, there are always new endeavors cropping up. This past April saw the launch of assemble, an interdisciplinary effort, exploring the interfaces between arts, technology and community. Through the end of July, assemblage will be presenting COLORIZE THE URBAN LANDSCAPE, a community project developed by Leah Bevilacqua and Stephanie Brunner. The artists are making the case with this exhibit for the restorative properties of public art for the community. It is amazing what a little paint, and a lot of thought, can do to brighten a dreary cityscape.

(Credit: Imagebox)

Livermore

Ashley Andrykovitch’s observations about the abandoned community of Livermore will be presented at Imagebox. Her softened palette appropriately expresses the deterioration experienced in these abandoned tons, blending memory and myth with its current state.

The venues along Penn Avenue open their doors every first Friday, welcoming performers, poets, and activists to present their voices for Pittsburgh’s cultural explorer. Hours of operation are limited in many of the venues, but most are willing to see you for an appointment. Keep up with the upcoming events on the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative website.

Susan Constanse is a painter, living and working in Pittsburgh. Examples of her work can be viewed on her website www.susanconstanse.com.